William M. Brown III

William McKinney Brown III, age 76, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away on May 29, 2026, after battling a long illness.

Mack was born on May 24, 1950, to Margaret and Bill Brown of Richmond, Virginia. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School and Hampden-Sydney College.

In 1983, Mack married his beloved wife, Mary, in Blacksburg, Virginia. They lived in northern Virginia and Tampa, Florida, before settling in Raleigh, North Carolina. Together, they raised eight children: Leah, McKinney, Anna, Adam, Nick, Christina, Michael, and Hope.

Mack was a hard worker who enjoyed a good challenge. In his early years, he bred and showed award-winning basset hounds, including his favorite dog, Abernathy, who won a blue ribbon for Best in Show. Mack owned a pet supply business in his young adulthood. He also spent about a decade working for a magazine publisher in Raleigh. For most of his life, he worked as an estimator and project manager for several major electrical contractors. He loved to share details about the light fixtures in the schools, hospitals, and corporate buildings around Raleigh. To him, every building had a story.

Mack had many interests, most of which involved providing for his family and spending time outside. He was a passionate advocate for international adoption, and he helped many people on their adoption journeys. He loved waterskiing on the Rappahannock River and fishing in the river and ocean. In the off-season, he loved to fish from a dock along the sound in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina. Some lucky fish were thrown back; others he cooked for supper. Most of the summer, Mack was in his garden, where he grew his famous beefsteak tomatoes. He was always up for a good game of golf or a grand adventure with his family. On the weekends, he was in the kitchen making biscuits, potato salad, Reuben sandwiches, or a pot of Brunswick stew. He was a competitive grocery shopper, and he could never pass up a good deal–even if it meant visiting three stores in one morning.

As a devoted father and husband, Mack enjoyed time with his family. He spent a lot of time with his children, playing computer games, fishing, cheering them on at swim meets, attending ball games, and building playhouses for them in the backyard. Always ready for a road trip, he made sure to keep car snacks hidden in the center console. His laugh was contagious, and he delighted everyone he met with his wonderful sense of humor. He loved his family dogs, Daisy and Ben, and spoiled them as much as he could. He always encouraged his family to make the most of each moment and to treasure the happy times they shared together.

Mack was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Bill Brown, and his beloved sister, Beverly Ziegler.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Mary Brown; his children, Leah Kleinigger, McKinney Brown, Christina High, Michael Brown, and Hope Brown; his brother-in-law, Don Ziegler; and his niece, Sarah Hodkinson.

Mack will be honored in a private family service. He asked that people honor his memory by remembering the good times and meaningful conversations they shared with him over the years.